NEWSWIRE

WCA HOSTS CCO PLAYERS

CCO rising stars Subeg Singh and Maninderjit Singh, both from Brampton Ontario never knew the surprise that was waiting for them at the Nagpur facility of the World Cricket Academy (WCA) when they were treated to a practice and training opportunity along with Rahul Dravid, Sreesanth, Shaun Tait and other players from the IPL's Rajsthan Royals. The Royals are training at WCA Nagpur ahead of the 2012 IPL season.

Canadian players are in Nagpur on a training tour organised by Cricket Council of Ontario with assistance from Cricket Canada. Cricket Canada's senior team have previously trained with WCA coaches and undertook a tour of India in 2010 with WCA assistance. WCA now operates a residential cricket academy in Nagpur, India. Monty Desai, Coach of Rajsthan Royals and an associate of WCA is currently with the Canadian team in Dubai at the T20 Cricket World Cup Qualifier.

CCO President Leslie Soobrian was excited at the opportunity given to Subeg and Maninder.

"The boys have been given an opportunity of a lifetime. These youngsters have demonstrated the courage and desire to enhance their skills while learning techniques to further their development.Their parents must be complimented for the support and encouragement given to the boys. We hope one day to see them on our national team.

The Cricket Council of Ontario is proud of these youngsters and thank all our partners for their part in making this trip a success. Interacting with some of the best cricketers in the world...would give them the confidence to pursue their cricketing career.

Cricket Council of Ontario wants to focus on this type of development at home and at the sametime mainstain relationships with such outstanding and high profile academy as the WCA for junior and senior cricketers. These type of coaching exchange is vital for the future of Canadian Cricket The time has come for all of us to work together in an concerted effort to develop policies and to establish the infrastructure for coaching. The successes of any great cricket nation have always depended on the quality of their coaching programs and their outreach to beginners and youths. Canadian future successes will only come if we continue to expand and put these mechanisms in place to allow our young and aspiring cricketers to pursue excellence in their cricket career.

I must thank Ranjit Saini for his involement and leadership in making this tour a reality. He is a man of true conviction and a visionary for the future of Canadian Cricket. His ideas and ideals are in the best interest of this sport."